Illuminating writing instrument



P. BISCHOF ILLUMINATING WRITING INSTRUMENT April 19, 1949.

Filed Feb. 24, 1947 m. M w w.

` Paul Bischof Patented Apr. 19, 1949 TENT OFFICE ILLUMNATING WRITING INSTRUMENT Paul Bischof, New York, N. Y., assignor of onehalf to Paul Sussman, Lakewood, N. J.

Application February 24, 1947, Serial No. 730,421

(c1. 1z0-1s) 1 Claim.

This invention relates to pencils or the like, and aims to provide new and useful improvements in the combination of illuminating means with a mechanical pencil whereby a field of illumination may be spread over the paper being used to write upon in the neighborhood of the tip of the instrument. With the use of this instrument a person may write in the dark.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel interconnecting means between the transparent or translucent sleeve containing the light bulb, and the mechanical pencil holder.

A further object is the provision of the combination of a mechanical pencil and illuminating means as stated above, in such compact and enicient form that the instrument will be inexpensive in cost of manufacture and eicient in operation and use.

A still further object is the provision of a novel and improved mechanical feeding and retracting means for the writing lead of the mechanical pencil.

The above as well as additional and more specific objects will become apparent in the following description wherein characters of reference refer to like-numbered parts in the accompanying drawing. It is to be noted that the drawing is intended for the purpose of illustration only and that it is neither desired nor intended to limit the invention to any or all of the specic details of construction shown.

Referring briey to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the instrument.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral lllI indicates the body or barrel of the instrument, which may be made of metal and which may be provided with a pocket clip II. The upper end of the barrel I= is reduced and threaded at I2, to receive a threaded cap I3. Riveted back-to-back to the cap I3 by the rivet Hl is a reversed cap-like member I5 whose open top is adapted to be closed by the frictional stopper I5. Spare leads I'I may be carried in the closed member I 5.

The lower end of the barrel I is closed by a metal disc I8 xed to the barrel and provided with a screw socket I9 receptive of a light bulb 20.

An insulating washer or disc 2I is provided against the cap I3 around the head of the rivet I4, and a helical spring 22 normally urges the cap upward by virtue of its pressure against the battery cells 23 contained within the barrel II). It is apparent that when the cap is screwed down so that the rivet head contacts the upper end of the upper cell 23 and forces the lower cell against the contactZIl of the bulb 20, the latter will be energized.

A sleeve 25, made of any transparent or translucent material such as Lucite. glass, or any other plastic material, has its upper end 26 reduced and threaded to engage the lower threaded end of the barrel I0. The lower end 2l of the sleeve 25 is also reduced and threaded,as shown.

The mechanical pencil unit 28 of the device comprises the lower extension 29 which has a reduced threaded nipple 30 threadably engaged in the threaded lower end 21 of the sleeve 25. An axial cylindrical opening 3l passes through the extension 29 and the nipple 30 thereof, and is provided with diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves 32. A worm 35 is positioned axially in the opening 3I and has rigid on the upper end thereof a flange 3l! provided with diametrically opposed ears 33 which register slidably in the grooves 32.

A tapering tip 36 having the axial opening 31 therethrough, has a reduced upper end 38 registering rotatably in a flange 39 projecting from the member 29. A peripheral groove Il) is provided around the reduced end 38, and spaced diametrical pins 4I rigid in the flange 39 project into the groove 49. Thus, the tip 36 is held to the member 29 but is free to rotate with respect to the same, An annular recess 42 is cut into the upper edge of the reduced end 38 of the tip 36, and at diametrically opposed positions grooves 423 are cut through the said upper edge. An annular washer or the like 44 registers in this recess, and is provided with diametrically opposed ears 45a which register in the grooves 43; thus this washer is locked in the tip 36.

The washer 44 is internally threaded and is in mesh on the worm 35. The worm projects downward through this washer and is provided on its lower extremity with a lead-gripping head 45 adapted to hold frictionally the end of a length of lead 46.

It is apparent that rotation of the tip 36 in one direction with respect to the member 29 will cause the lead to advance out of the tip ready for writing, and reverse rotation of the same will restore the lead to its normally substantially concealed position shown in Fig. 2.

It is apparent from the above that a practical, useful, and simply operated illuminating mechanical pencil has been provided. Obviously modifications in form and structure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

A mechanical pencil including a barrel and a transparent or translucent sleeve secured by one end to one end of the barrel, an extension member adapted to be secured to the other end of said sleeve :zo-axially with said sleeve, means partly on said sleeve and partly on said member for securing said member to said sleeve, said member having an axial bore, said member having longitudinal grooves extending therethrough adjacent and communicating with said bore, a worm extending through said bore and having a, flange rigid thereon, said flange having ears extending therefrom and registering slidably in said grooves, a tip member having an axial opening therethrough, means securing said tip rotatably onand in axial alignment with said extension member, said worm having a lead-gripping head thereon and positioned within said opening, a washer-like member mounted between said tip member and said extension member, means partly on said tip member` and partly on said washer-like member for locking the latter to said PAUL BISCHOF.

REFERENCES CITED VThe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 975,465 Schnapka -s Nov. 15, 1910 1,391,273 Pollak Sept. 20, 1921 1,411,558 Aronson Apr. 4, 1922 1,738,173 Deli Dec. 3, 1929 1,853,042 Deli s Apr. 12, 1932 1,995,563 Billings Apr. 2, 1935 2,354,402 Petruccione July 2,5, 1944 

